I'm not sure if you remember the entire history of the Metamorphosis spell for Warlocks, but from the time it was introduced, to the MoP revamp it has always been thrown in there because... well... Illidan. Now, don't get me wrong. I like Illidan. And before Demonology landed as a proper 'Conjurer' (back when it was a schizophrenic mess) I was suggesting that Demonology be made into a Demon Hunter -esque melee dps spec (I still wouldn't mind that alternative, if people want to keep pure dps classes pure). It just seems to me, that if we are getting more room with an additional spec, that we should take the opportunity to both: Flesh out Demonology's new direction to fully encompass being a Fel Conjurer, and give Metamorphosis a chance to shine with a spec fully designed around it. I would play both.

Death Knight - Valkyr
Still based on Runic Power, the Valkyr has the power to wield dark magics and inflict great damage from a distance. While in this state, the Valkyr has the ability to heal themself and share that healing with one singular person to whom they are linked. This would make for a Ranged DPS caster class in INT Plate armor who has very limited self and shared healing powers. They would not be able to queue as a healer, but could certainly throw a little healing in the direction of the tank via their Valkyric Bond.

Hunter - Dark Ranger
The dark ranger, moves in shadows and stealth and is well equipped for close range combat. Using only their cunning, this melee DPS class relies on 1H weapons and a single pet (of their choosing). While summoned, the combat pet serves as an active link to the dark ranger giving him or her access to combat abilities found within the pet to which they are linked. A ranger could gain great strength from their bear, or great haste from a jungle cat. Their power still rests in their focus, and the link to the animal is both a blessing and a curse, for if the animal dies, so does the ranger and vice versa.

Mage - Combat Magi
This Melee DPS class is known for its weapon wielding and its spell slinging all rooted in INT Plate gear. The Combat Magi, though not a tanking class, can certainly hold its own against a host of foes should the tank suddenly come under heavy fire, or worse, death. Already equipped with the powers of Fire, Ice, and Arcane, the Combat Magi uses Composite Magic which combines elements from all 3 schools of magic and turns them into deadly munitions against their foes. The Combat Magi is able to wield 1H and 2H weapons and is also capable of casting a Magical Shield which lasts only 30 mins at a time and occupies the off-hand slot while using 1H weapons.

Monk - Jade Summoner
This ranged DPS class is a learned branch from Shamanistic practices. The Summoner uses a Jade statue to replenish power as it is used, and can summon great totems to battle for him. Using the proper spells, a Summoner can bring forth a Jade Serpent, Crane, or Tiger to fight for him. During the summon, the Monk takes control of the summoned mist creature and uses its abilities in its defense. Once the battle ends, the summoned creature vanishes and the monks power is slowly replenished. Should the monk be tasked thin during a battle, the monk must summon the jade statue to refill their energy.

Paladin - Arch Crusader
This 4th Paladin spec allows the Paladin to battle from a distance, and keep their foes at bay. This Ranged DPS is reliant on INT Plate, and uses holy light and power to cast tremendous spells, such as Force of Will, which knocks all enemies back 25 yards from where they stand and can be used at a 15 yard range. Or, Wall of Illumination where the Paladin summons a giant wall of holy light which stops all foes from passing for 8-10 seconds allowing himself or his group to regain their footing and prepare for battle to continue.

Priest - Cleric
This priest spec is the only spec to use INT Mail, and while relying on holy magic, is a Melee DPS class which charges its 1H, 2H, and shields with holy warding and damage inflicting enchantments, much the same way a Shaman uses Flame Tongue weapon and lightning shield. Resembling a lesser geared Paladin, the Cleric is able to cast both healing and damage spells while in motion. They must use Prayer to replenish their holy power as they are not dependent on Mana the way their counterpart classes are. A cleric, when properly geared and skilled can be a deadly foe. Their only drawback is the prayer time needed to replenish their resource after intense battles.

Rogue - Sniper
This fourth spec for rogues is a Ranged DPS class, and falls closely in line with hunters, with one exception, they only use bows and crossbows for the silent kill. Guns are just too noisy for this group of long distance shadow killers. The other advantage to a sniper versus a hunter, is his ability to dual wield crossbows much the same way he dual wields blades. His skillfull use of poisons and ranged bows makes him a very lethal assassin style sniper. The sniper is also given a bonus to scope usage on his ranged weapons, and can fire them while stealthed. Firing instantly removes the stealth, unless the shot bears no aggro, such as a sleep shot, or the infamous Black Jack dart knocking his foe to the ground while stunning him.

Shaman - LifeForce
A LifeForce Shaman is a warrior of his people who relies on his instincts and brute strength. All of his magic is used to buff himself, his weapons, and when needed healing himself and his spirit guide. This specialization of shamanistic magic relies on the elements of nature and the power they have for his totem animal. When a LifeForce Shaman starts on his journey, he selects a totem that represents his power and an animal to harness that power. So, if the shaman chooses a bear and a fire totem, a spirit bear formed of fire would stand to assist the Shaman in his efforts to hold the line. This is a tanking spec.

Warlock - Infernal
This is a tank spec. The warlock who chooses the path of the Infernal takes on a great responsibility. Much like the demon from which the power is extracted, when active (like a worgen changing with rage), the Warlock shifts from their "normal" appearance into something much larger, more solid like the rock formed infernals of Hellfire, but demon in shape with horns, wings, hooves, and even a tale. This green glowing demonic rock beast would strike fear in the heart of even the darkest enemy and has no trouble using this new fel form to trample all foes in his path. While in this state, the warlock is given a guardian Imp who uses shadow magic to heal its morphed master... or suffer dire consequences. Fel Energy is the new fuel source for this state, and is generated much the same way as rage.

Warrior - Barbarian
This is a 2nd tanking spec. The warrior, whose entire battle is based on Rage is now enhanced and can withstand more than any other tank in the game. Once specc'd as Barbarian, when enraged in combat, the Barbarian increases in size by 20% and once at 50% rage, gains a 15% damage bonus to all attacks and a 20% increase in physical defense based on armor. The Barbarian can use any weapon EXCEPT ranged, and is allowed to dual wield all of them, including staves. An unstoppable killing machine, the Barbarian's only real weakness is his de-raging process. If a Barbarian is below 5% health with 0 rage accumulated, the 20% size reduction will kill him. It is important for the Barbarian to always remain aware of his health level and try not to bite off more than he can chew. With a good healer, he is unkillable.

I could see Rogues healing as a Bard (think Rift) more than a "Field Medic" which doesn't make a lot of sense. Bards are generally considered a hybrid of Rogues even in most D&D games, and tend to get a lot of rogue skills (in EverQuest they got lock picking/sneak, pickpocket etc. and what not).

As far as Rogue tanking goes, I've tanked as a Rogue in a few MMOs now (Assassin in SWTOR, and Riftstalker in Rift). I would personally love to have a saboteur style (demolition expert) talent tree. That was probably the funnest Rogue spec of any game I've played so far.

---------- Post added 2013-06-30 at 05:15 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Superman-BladesEdge

Rogue - Sniper
This fourth spec for rogues is a Ranged DPS class, and falls closely in line with hunters, with one exception, they only use bows and crossbows for the silent kill. Guns are just too noisy for this group of long distance shadow killers. The other advantage to a sniper versus a hunter, is his ability to dual wield crossbows much the same way he dual wields blades. His skillfull use of poisons and ranged bows makes him a very lethal assassin style sniper. The sniper is also given a bonus to scope usage on his ranged weapons, and can fire them while stealthed. Firing instantly removes the stealth, unless the shot bears no aggro, such as a sleep shot, or the infamous Black Jack dart knocking his foe to the ground while stunning him.

This would make sense lore-wise since SI:7 almost always has Snipers with them in every quest or scenario.

If anyone remembers Dark Age of Camelot, that game had many neat classes but one of my favorites was the Theurgist. Described as such:

"Theurgists carry with them the ability to create their own small armies through the summoning of elemental creatures. The Theurgist can deal direct damage on the enemy as well as pummel him with up to 16 elementals. Summoning elementals one after the other, Theurgists hit their enemies from all sides, thus confusing them in the heat of battle."

Basically, instead of spamming bolts of magic to murder your enemies you shot out lots of little elemental dudes of varying types, one after another. They weren't permanent or controlled in the same sense as a Hunter pet or anything (they would just run straight at the target and start clobbering until it or they were dead), but it felt pretty rad to summon these little armies as your primary means of offense. I would love to see a fourth spec in this vain. Shaman would probably be the most suitable, but it could be adapted to anybody really.

I was just thinking about how this is more than likely what Blizz will do next expansion if they dont add another class!!

Overall, the Druid 4 specc system worked rather well so can see them doing something similar for everyone.

My ideas are below. Please note, that I do in some situations disagree with the whole "everyone must have access to two roles" if a 4th specc was added. Sometimes, not everyone NEEDS to be able to do a different role. Also, I think for this to work best, Blizzard may have to add a 4th role int he form of a controller or buffer/debuffer, so I have listed what I think would work here as well.

Death Knight : Not sure on name for it yet, but personally I would love to see a ranged dps specc based on AoE attacks and spell plate. Allow them to also dual wield so they can equip two int weapons. Could have the ability to transform into a Lich, much like Demo locks have a demon form. Wouldnt cause too many issues with gear access either as currently only one class can use spell plate.

Druid: As my main, I would love a 5th specc added to druids to make them more special (JK!) In all seriousness, just diversify the attacks between Guardian and Feral a bit more and I would be happy. And allow some more customization of the looks of the different forms, Including a new moonkin form!

Hunter: Would love to call it a beastmaster specc but the name is already taken! Would love to see a melee based specc which still includes the pet. Have it procc based so the more powerful abilities tie in to when the pet performs a crit for example, or make it so that the pet and hunter perform a combo move. Also a possiblity this type of role could be a controller, with snares and slows and the like, involving flanking the opponent with your pet.

Monk: Already been said, but a crane based ranged dps specc. Only one that makes sense really.

Mage: Chronomancer for healing. Mages are already playing around with time magic, so it makes sense. Would make it more of a proactive heal build involving HoT's and shields, so it played like a resto druid/disc priest combo.

Paladin: Ranged dps specc would be cool, but I dont really feel like it is needed for paladins. Think giving them a second heal specc which is melee based would be a better fit personally. Might make me play my Paladin again as well!

Priest: Unless blizzard added a 4th role like a controller, which I would also love them to do, the only real option is a holy based dps specc. If however they decided to add a controller role as well, a psychic based control specc which involved debuffing the enemy through mental attacks and buffing the party through doing this.

Rogue: This one I think is rather tricky, as I dont see a rogue filling a role apart from DPS (similar to hunter), unless a control role was brought out as well. In the situation of a control role, a trickster which flitted about disarming and slowing enemies, or distracting them would work rather well for a rogue. IF not a 4th role, then the aforementioned swashbuckler style tank would work I suppose.

Shaman: Again a tricky one. Controller like role doesn't work in my head, but nor does a shaman tank. This is the only class I struggle with, simply because I cannot see what other type of role they could have, except maybe perhaps a pet based specc, but not sure if id like to see it as a healing specc or a dps specc.

Warlock: As unpopular as this may make me, I do not like the idea of a warlock tank in the slightest. However, should a 4th specc be added, I have a strong suspicion this is the way it would go. Warlocks would also make a good controller role class as well, could link the souls of enemies and allies and whenever the debuff the enemy that ally/allies gains a small buff, so like a life stealing based spec.

Warrior: Ranged dps would be awesome here, and the only real fit. Could have a controller like specc as well which involved rushing an enemy and hindering them with strikes to specific areas of the body. Would prefer this specc to solely use hammers though for crushing of bones!

If anyone remembers Dark Age of Camelot, that game had many neat classes but one of my favorites was the Theurgist. Described as such:

"Theurgists carry with them the ability to create their own small armies through the summoning of elemental creatures. The Theurgist can deal direct damage on the enemy as well as pummel him with up to 16 elementals. Summoning elementals one after the other, Theurgists hit their enemies from all sides, thus confusing them in the heat of battle."

Basically, instead of spamming bolts of magic to murder your enemies you shot out lots of little elemental dudes of varying types, one after another. They weren't permanent or controlled in the same sense as a Hunter pet or anything (they would just run straight at the target and start clobbering until it or they were dead), but it felt pretty rad to summon these little armies as your primary means of offense. I would love to see a fourth spec in this vain. Shaman would probably be the most suitable, but it could be adapted to anybody really.

Death Knight Necromancer.

Others?

Hunter: A bit involved....make Beast Mastery the Pet spec by removing pets baseline. Pets become the BMs L10 specialisation skill. Then develop the other two specs for greater differentiation. Next, add a Control Pet T1 talent, meaning any Hunter has the optional ability to control a Pet, but BMs have it by default and can choose to control 2. The Hunter would have greater flexibility, I feel, without the pet.

When I think of 4th spec, I see an opportunity to expand upon the definition of "pure dps class". I would like to see each of the current pure dps classes reformatted so that they each have 2 melee specs and 2 ranged/caster specs. There should be something of a symbiotic relationship between each pair of specs within a class, including the "hybrid" classes. For example: Maybe for DKs, Unholy and Blood would use Soul Reaper, but Immortal and Frost would have a different type of execute ability. Ret and Holy Paladins would have access to Holy Shock, whereas Prot and Justice Paladins would not. Things like that.

wouldnt having a 4th spec mean that basically almost every class could be either a healer, tank or dps by itself? what would the point of classes be if DK's could heal

Same question, circa 2007: What's the point of classes if DK's could tank?

Classes would still approach their new roles according to the themes they already have. If a DK could heal, expect him to do it by manipulating life and death, in a manner far darker than the holy or nature wielding healers.

Based on Valkyr lore (Spiritweaver) Healing spec that relies in consuming the souls of the enemies to create absorption shields.

Druid - Guardian

You guys already have one!! But one just for fun

Nature

Mele/Ranged DPS focused on channeling nature's raw power through their weapons. Fight style depends on the weapon equipped

Hunter - Dark Hunter

A gameplay amalgamation of Dark Rangers and Shadow Hunters. Ranged DPS, wears leather -can only summon spirit/undead pets; focuses in DoT's and curses, few of them as shots. Their survivability comes from consuming enemies life force and usings shadow spells to mitigate damage and movility.

Monks that follow the teachings of Chi-ji of Hope and Contemplation though the archery art of Kyudo. Ranged DPS that gains combo points that can be unleashed in devastating attacks. Uses ranged weapon.

Paladin - Radiance

Paladin that heals and inspires though auras and massive AoE spells. Although a healer, he can also damage though his auras and AoE, making the spec versatile depending the fight and what the group needs.

Priest - Devotion

Priests that channel the powers of their deities to strike their enemies down. Ranged DPS, they channel certain attacks through their weapons. They deal direct holy damage at distance. Race restricted Glyphs change the appareance of several spells -i.e. The "Starfall" night elf glyph cosmetically alters the devotion ranged AoE baseline spell and its tooltip.

Rogue - Warden

Modeled after the Night Elven Wardens. Melee DPS that uses a variety of snares to hinder enemies movement or bolster their own.

Shaman - Absorption

Shaman that uses the powers of the elements to redirect damage to the earth, absorb it through water, and disperse it in the wind and flames. Tank, focused on damage mitigation and redirection of damage as threat.

Warlock - Demon Hunter

Illidan's teachings remain alive. Meele DPS with small viability for tanking (redirecting the efforts put in Demonology) can duel wield daggers, sacrifices his use of minions for personal survivavility.

Warrior - Berserker

Powerful warrior that sacrifices survivavility for damage. Melee DPS than can range out and throw is weapon to cause burst damage.

As a lazy thought; the specs are unlocked through questlines at level 90, which involve your class trainers, a questline that explores the new mechanics, etc. If you complete your questline, any future examples of that class which you make have that spec unlocked.

Death Knight: Lich; ranged DPS
You get a book and bring it to that Lich dude in Acherus. He's all like "oh hey this book is super neat I could teach you lich magic" and he teaches you lich/banshee magic and eventually you can seperate your soul from your body and all that good stuff. You shoot icicles and things at bad guys to beat them.

Druid: Dragon Acolyte; melee DPS
You get a book which you can't read, and you take it to Hamuul, or whoever's convenient in Moonglade, really. They're all like "whoa, this book was written by Some Super Old Guy" and they can't read it, so you take it to Ysera and she's all like "this is some terrible fanfiction, but at least it's not slash fanfic" and then she teaches you all this Green Dragon stuff that I can't be bothered going into.

Hunter: Aspect Master; melee DPS
You recover a really cool monkey totem from some tribal race and you bring it to Brann Bronzebeard. He's all like "och this is a magical artifact laddy" and then you hunt down the absolute pinnacle of those animals, kill them, and absorb their essence DOVAAHKIN style. Your aspects become SUPER POWERFUL, except for HAWK and IRON HAWK which are replaced by MONKEY and GORILLA respectively, and your shots are replaced with cool animal-styled melee attacks.

Mage: Spellblade; melee DPS
You find a book and take it to Dalaran, where you talk to RhoninKrasus either Aethas or Jaina depending on your faction. Together you unravel the arcane secret of turning weapons into Spellblades and eventually storing your spells in them, turning your vocal utterances and hand gestures into sword/dagger/staffplay.

Monk: Red Crane; spell DPS
there's that red crane who doesn't have a monk spec so go study under him for a while

Paladin: Avenger; melee DPS
You get a random bullshit questline, but you're partnered with a Really Cool Chick through it. At the end of it, she dies and the villain escapes, so you get REALLY PISSED OFF and because you're REALLY PISSED OFF you get new spells and abilities.

Priest: Divine Wrath; ranged DPS
You find a book by a radical cult of the Light devoted to cleansing the world of undead and anyone who would associate with them wait this group sounds familiar. Anyway, you find one of their lost books and start studying it, but it's kinda-sorta tainted by demon power, so you and a Naaru who is a totally cool dude work together to cleanse it. Eventually you get really good at smitin' and holy firin'.

Rogue: Stalker; ranged DPS
You get some scenes with Wrathion towards the start of the expansion, and he makes a deal with you; do his morally questionable bidding, and he'll teach you secrets; how to shoot a crossbow all good-like, in particular, and a few dragonblood poisons. Eventually during the questline, you find a hidden cache of Twilight eggs and spellbooks, and you bring them back to him; he mutates your Shadow spells into Twilight spells, and you become a badass assassin using Twilight Magic and Black Dragon blood.

Shaman: Earthwarder; tank, 2H hammer
Thrall's all like "yeah hey man do you want to know how to use THE POWER OF THE EARTH" because he has trouble keeping his ham under control. You go hang out with him for a while and he's all like "hammers are cool" and you eventually become a 2h tank using shields (the things that orbit around you not the weapon) and you can tank and whatnot.

Shaman have been crying/begging to be able to tank since vanilla, that one's a no brainer - can't see how people are saying they don't know what the shaman one should be. It would guarantee all my monies if they gave us one tbh.